.,^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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y 


^  -^' 


^ 


1.0 


1.1 


■^  lii   |22 

^   MiS.    12.0 

u 


U£ 


1.25  II  i.4   ^ 

^ '■ 

6"     

► 

Hiotograjbic 

Sdmtes 

Coiporatioii 


d 


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23  WfST  MAIN  STIEET 

WEMTER.N.Y.  14580 

(716)I73-4S03 


'4^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IMicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiqu« 


Tschnical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  avaiiabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  In  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


D 


D 


n 


n 


Q 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I    Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommag^a 

Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurte  at/ou  palllculte 


r~n    Covar  titia  miaaing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  mapa/ 

Cartaa  giographiquaa  an  coulaur 

Colourad  inic  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  blacic)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


I     I   Colourad  plataa  and/or  iiiuatrationa/ 


Planchaa  at/ou  iiiuatrationa  Bn  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
RaliA  avac  d'autraa  documanta 


Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarlor  margin/ 

La  re  liura  sarrAe  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatortion  la  long  da  la  marga  intAriaura 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  the  text.  Whenever  poaaibia,  theaa 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  aa  paut  qua  car^inea  pagaa  bianchaa  aJoutAaa 
lore  d'una  reatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  texte, 
mala,  ioraqua  cela  Atait  poaaibia,  cea  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  AtA  filmtea. 


Til 
to 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm^  la  maillaur  axemplaire 
qu'il  lul  a  AtA  poaaibia  da  aa  procurer.  Lea  dAtaila 
da  cat  axamplaire  qui  aont  paut-Atre  uniquea  rf u 
point  da  vua  bibliographique,  qui  pauvant  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exigar  una 
modification  dana  la  m^thoda  normaia  da  f ilmaga 
aont  indiqute  ci-deaaoua. 


|~~|   Coloured  pagaa/ 


n 


Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairea  auppMmentairaa: 


Pagaa  da  coulaur 

Pagaa  damaged/ 
Pagaa  endommagtea 

Pagaa  raatorad  and/oi 

Pagaa  reataurAaa  at/ou  paiiiculAea 

Pagaa  diacoloured,  atainad  or  foxa< 
Pagaa  dAcoiortea,  tachat^a  ou  piquAaa 

Pagaa  detached/ 
Pagaa  d^tachtea 

Showthroughy 
Tranaparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  InAgRla  de  I'impreaaion 

Includea  aupplamentary  matarii 
Comprend  du  materiel  auppl^mantaire 

Only  adition  avaiiabia/ 
Saula  Mition  diaponible 


I — I  Pagaa  damaged/ 

I — I  Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminated/ 

r~y|  Pagaa  diacoloured,  atainad  or  foxed/ 

|~n  Pagaa  detached/ 

I    1  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  variea/ 

I      I  Includea  aupplamentary  material/ 

I — I  Only  adition  avaiiabia/ 


Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  arrata 
alipa.  tiaauaa,  ate,  have  been  reflimed  to 
enaura  the  beat  poaaibia  image/ 
Lea  pagaa  totalament  ou  partiellement 
obacurciea  par  un  fauiilet  d'arrata,  una  palura, 
etc.,  ont  M  fllmtea  k  nouveau  da  fa9on  A 
obtanir  la  meiileure  image  poaaibia. 


Tl 
po 
of 
fil 


Oi 
b« 
th 
8i( 
ot 
fir 
ai( 
or 


Til 
ah 


Ml 
dil 
en 
be 
rig 
rei 
mi 


Pagst  25  &  26  are  miuing. 


TiJa  itam  la  filmed  at  tha  raduction  ratio  chackad  ImIow/ 

Ce  documant  eat  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-deaaoua. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

3 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

The  copy  filmad  h«r«  has  bMn  raprodueod  thanks 
to  the  ganarosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archivas  of  Canada 


L'axampiaira  f  ilmA  f  ut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
gAnirosit*  da: 

La  bibliothAquff  das  Archivas 
publiquas  du  Canada 


Tha  imagaa  appearing  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  ara  rllmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  e  printed  or  lilustroted  Impres- 
sion, or  the  beck  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  originel  copies  ere  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  end>'*8  on  the  lest  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrate  J  imprassion. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shell  contain  the  symbol  ^^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  ▼  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  4t4  reproduces  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  de  I'exemplaire  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 

Les  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  fiimAs  en  commen9ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plot,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autras  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premiere  pege  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration  at  an  terminant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
darniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  salon  la 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  ie 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


IMaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  lerge  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ere  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hend  corner,  left  to 
right  end  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrama  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
fiimfo  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciicht.  11  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  heut  en  bes,  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'imeges  nicessaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
illustrant  la  m^thoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

:5ia;«£iU 


Farewell  sermon  preached  in 

St.  John's  Church,  Greenwich, 

on  Sunday,  July  28th, 

and  in  St.  Peters  Church,  Westfield, 

on  Sunday,  August  )+th,  l833; 

with  a  hymn  composed  for  the  occasion, 


By  the  Revd.  Gilbert  L.  Wiggins. 


iSiiaASA^t?^^ ^  __« *!r' X tt^.  --  (.tJfci^  (4.j« 


™    ) 


f. 


■Sf>^ 


.  J 

•V 


So  tnjj  IBeat  JTrtentiB, 

THE     PARISHIONERS     OP 

WESTFIELD  and  GREENWICli 

It  was  my  intention  that  this  Sermon  should  have  bt 
printed  previously  to  taking  my  departure  from  St.  Joh 
but  finding  that  the  printer  required  a  much  longer  time  thai 
had  supposed  necessary  ;  and  being  desirous  of  setting  off  \ 
fore  it  could  have  been  accomplished,  I  concluded  to  defer  if  ^  ^ 
publication  till  I  should  arrive  at  this  place. 

In  committing  to  the  press  the  following  pages,  though  at 
your  particr^ar  request*  I  am  only  d^ing  what  my  own  f 
Ings  of  incl    ation  had  suggested.    I  liave  been  de&iroy^ 
leavmg  with  you  some  visible  token  of  pastoral  affection  aua 
remembrance  ;  and  perhaps  none  could  be  more  suitable  than 
a  discourse  delivered  under  circumstances,  and  on  a  subject, 
calculated  to  awaken  such  solemn  and  affecting  recollections. 

With  many  prayers,  I  commend  it  to  the  blessing  of  \.\\^  Ho- 
ly Spirit ;  and  beg  that  you  will  permit  this  little  messenger, 
•  in  the  name  ol  one  who  can  no  longer  personally  address  you, 
to  bring  to  remembrance  the  truths  I  endeavored  to  teach 
"  when  I  was  yet  with  you."  .  .. 

Always,  with  unchanging  affection, 

Your  true  friend, 

G.  L.  W. 

Boston^  (Ms.)  nth  Sep.  1833. 


•  O 


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<•      ( 


mMimmni  ■'■- 


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t.  > 


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SERMON. 


Acts   ::x.    2  5. 

and  now,  behold,  i  know  that  ye  all,  among  whom  i 
have  gone  preaching  the  kingdom  of  god,  shall  see  my 
face  no  more. 

The  relation  between  the  spiritual  shepherd  and  the  flock  o^ 
his  care,  is  one  the  most  aolemn ;  and,  when  the  obligations 
of  it  are  reciprocally  felt  and  appreciated,  the  most  endearing. 
The  trial,  therefore,  to  the  aifectionate  minister,  when  called  up- 
on to  dissolve  this  relationship,  can  only  be  fully  understood  by 
one  standing  in  the  situation  of  the  friend  who  is  now,  for  the 
last  time,  addressing  you. 

You,  my  dear  brethren,  are  not  ignorant  of  the  circumstan- 
ces which  have  led  to  this  trying  event.  You  are  aware,  that  the 
extensive  and  important  parish  of  Greenwich,  *  being  without  a 
clergyman  themselves,  have  looked  entirely  to  the  minister  of  this 
parish  for  the  administration  of  the  divine  ordinances.  You,  with 
kind  solicitude,  have  marked  my  declining  health.  You  have 
contemplated  it,  not  without  feelings  of  deep  concern,  in  what- 
ever point  of  view  it  has  been  regarded ;  and  while  deploring  the 


*  It  will  be  perceived  that  the  introductory  part  of  this  discourse  here 
stands  as  it  was  addressed  to  the  congregation  at  Westjield.  In  delivering 
it  the  preceding  Sunday  at  Greenwich,  the  author  had  of  course,  in  this 
particular,  adapted  it  to  the  circumstaiiceB  of  that  parish. 


unhappy  consequences  to  the  people  of  Greenwich  and  to  your- 
selves, have  evinced  toward  your  minister  those  affectionate  and 
consoling  sympathies,  of  which  he  can  never  cease  to  cherish  a 
grateful  remembrance. 

Viewing,  as  I  continually  must,  the  spiritual  wants  even  of  this 
pariah,  especially  in  the  more  sccludeil  districts,  and  under  an  un- 
happy consciousness  that  the  state  of  my  health  rendered  it  im- 
possible to  supply  those  wants  in  any  degree  as  l  could  desire  — 
this  alone  has  been  sufticiontly  painful  :  but  when,  moreover,  I 
have  thought  of  Greenwich,  when  I  have  looked  at  its  inhabitants, 
now  left  *  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd,'  asking  for  the  bread  of 
life  —  supplicating  *  Come  over  and  help  us,'  without  being  able 
to  extend  to  them  the  assistance  ♦hat  they  need  —  my  feelings 
have  been  such  as  are  known  only  to  Him  *  who  seeth  in  secret.'  * 


*  Sliould  these  simple  pages  be  read  beyond  tlie  Immblc  circle  for  which 
they  are  particularly  designed  ;  and  esjiecially  by  any  unacquainted  with 
the  peculiar  circumstances  of ///p  Established  C/iureh  in  the  Colonies,  anez- 
jjlanatory  remark  or  two  may  here  perhaps  be  requisite  — 

Ml  the  parochial  Clergy  of  this  Chiuclj,  in  the  provlucos  of  JNova  Scotia 
and  New  Brunswick,  arc  missionaries  of  the  tiocicly  for  the  projiriraiion  qf 
the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts  ;  and,  except  in  towns,  are  supported  ahiiost 
exclusively  by  the  bounty  of  that  bcnoficent  institution.  Tliere  are  in- 
deed instances,  even  in  the  country  parishes,  where  the  missionary,  beside 
the  liberal  salary  afforded  by  tlie  Society,  receives  a  stipend  from  the  peo- 
ple ;  but  this,  in  the  writer's  opinion,  does  not  generally  obtain,  at  least  to 
any  considerable  amount,  beyond  the  mere  providing  of  a  residence.  Cases 
in  fact  might  be  mentioned,  and  that  too,  in  districts  far  from  being  the  most 
indigent,  in  which  even  this  provision  is  not  made,  nor  anything  whatever 
contributed  for  their  pastor  —  possibly  because  they  may  never  have  con- 
sidered themselves  called  upon  to  make  such  effort.  At  the  same  time,  i' 
is  equally  true  —  and  we  trust  that  the  fact  will  never  cease  to  awaken  the 
concern,  to  touch  the  sympathies,  and  to  call  forth  the  beneficence  "of  Brit- 
ish Christians,  in  behalf  of  multitudes  who  are  perishing  for  lack  of  know- 
ledge in  the  dark  places  of  these  provinces  —  that  there  are  many  parts  of 
this  country,  in  which  wide  fields  for  usefulness  present  themselves,  where 
the  ministrations  of  our  Church  would  scarcely  be  known,  if  the  Clergy 
were  not  supported  entirely,  or  almost  entirely,  by  foreign  bounty,  and 
where,  by  the  never-to-be-forgotten  exertions  of  the  Society  P.  G.  F.,  her 
ministering  servants  have,  through  the  blessing  of  the  Most  High,  plant- 
ed the  standard  of  the  Cross  in  the  waste  places  of  the  wilderness,  and  op- 
ened in  the  desert  a  highway  for  cur  God. 


It  is  true,  that  either  of  these  parishes  presents,  in  itself,  a 
fiehl  more  than  siilhcicnt  for  all  the  zeal  and  cllort  of  the  most 
devotcil  minister  of  Christ,  however  vigorous  his  constitution. 
But  since  the  Society  cannot  atVord  a  missionary  for  (jreenwich, 
it  seemed  unavoidahle,  while  1  should  retain  m;  situation  hero, 
that  that  particular  parish  must  remain  without  the  privilege  of  a 
Gospel  ministry. 

Accordingly,  it  has  been  my  earnest  prayer,  that  lie,  "  from 
whom  all  good  counsels  proceed,"  would  he  pleased  to  point  out 
my  own  path  of  duty  under  the  peculiarly  trying  circumstances 
in  which  I  have  been  jdaced.  I  iiave  considered  the  destitute 
state  of  that  congregation  —  the  pressing  wants  of  the  many  im- 
mortal souls  scattered  over  a  wide-spread  population;  and,  after 
giving  the  subject  all  the  investigation  in  my  power,  have  come 


,. 


'lit  however  theso  tilings  miiy  be  —  as  the  attempt  to  support  a  clergyman 
A  the  established  Church  by  the  people  theinselvea,  i  ■«,  with  us,  never 
yet  actually  been  made,  and  as  the  Society's  means  do  not  admit  of  in- 
creasing the  number  of  their  missionary  stations  —  many  populous  parish- 
es are,  in  consequence,  lelt  without  minibUio.  Such  puiishes  are  there- 
forp  dependant  upon  the  missionary  in  their  nearest  vicinity,  and  are  thus, 
in  a  manner,  considered  a  part  of  his  charge.  (Although  it  must  of  course 
be  obvious,  that,  except  when  he  officiates  on  week  days,  tiiey  can  receive 
the  benefit  of  his  services  only  in  proportion  as  the  spiiore  for  liiu  more  im- 
mediate labors  is  neglected.)  This  was  the  case  with  Greenwich,  adjoin- 
ing Westfield.  Indeed,  for  a  number  of  years  after  the  writer  entered  up- 
on his  late  charge,  several  remote,  though  flourishing,  settlements,  in  an 
extensive  circumjacent  parish  beyond  Greenwich  —  then  without  a  resi- 
dent minister — were  In  a  condition  almost  equally  destitute.  Those  set- 
'lemonts,  while  the  state  of  his  health  allowed,  he  occasionally  visited; 
officiating,  in  such  cases,  uniformly  on  week  days.  Nor  can  he  now,  with- 
out feelings  of  touching  interest,  indulge  the  recollection  of  those  days 
that  are  gone,  on  which  the  people  would  leave  their  occupations,  fre- 
quently at  the  most  busy  seasons  of  the  year,  and  flock  in  such  numbert 
from  the  surrounding  country,  to  welcome  with  glad  hearts  the  messenger 
of  salvation.  In  scenes  like  those,  have  been  performed  some  of  the  most 
affecting  exercises  of  his  ministry  J  and  i*  was  not  without  many  painful 
struggles  of  feeling,  that  the  urgent  solicitations  from  that  affectionate 
people  were  successively  resisted,  and  the  writer's  visits  to  that  interesting 
portion  of  the  Lord's  vineyard  ultimately  discontinued.  But  of  late  years, 
his  Sunday  duties  atGreenwich  alone, and  occasional  visits  through  the  week 
to  the  distant  parts  of  that  parish,  added  to  the  immediate  claims  of  the  one 
uader  his  more  particular  care  —  have  beau  too  much  for  his  constitution, 


to  the  deliberate  and  solemn  conclusion  of  resigning  my  present 
charge,  and  of  thus  removing,  as  far  as  I  may  be  concerned,  every 
impediment  to  the  supplying  of  this  station  with  a  more  compe- 
tent missionary  :  and,  as  no  other  situation  is  aflbrded  mo  in  this 
Diocese,  under  the  constraining  convictions  of  religious  duty,  I 
have  resorted  to  the  only  remaining  alternative,  and  resigned  my 
office  as  a  missionary  of  the  Society. 

In  having  done  this,  I  am  indeed  lefl  without  any  definite 
prospect  of  support  for  my  family  ;  but,  to  ray  own  conviction,  it 
is  the  only  line  of  conduct  which,  as  a  consistent  servant  of  the 
Redeemer  ^  •-.ould  adopt.  To  the  care  of  that  gracious  Being, 
who  has  taugnt  us  to  repose  on  him  for  the  supply  of  our  temporal 
wants,  I  commend  myself  with  those  whom  he  has  given  me ; 
and,  in  the  consoling  consciousness  of  having  sought  to  know 


( 


'I     , 


especially  during  the  winter  season  —  long  and  frequent  exposures  to  its 
cold  and  inclemency  being  more  than  his  enfeebled  health  could  now  sus- 
' y  tain  ;  inscmuch,  that  during  the  past  winter  he  did  not  attempt  visiting 
Greenwich  at  all,  and  subsequently  gave  it  up  altogether.  It  was  an  af- 
fecting regard  to  the  ronspqiimf.  canUltlon  of  tliai  parish,  winch  induced 
him  to  the  step  he  has  so  recently  taken,  trying  beyond  measure  as  it  has 
been  to  resign  his  office  as  a  missionary  of  that  venerable  Society,  in  whuue 
service  he  has  had  the  honor  of  being  engaged  for  about  thirteen  yeai-s. 

Let  it  not  hence  be  inferred,  that  the  Society  require  or  expect  from 
their  missionaries,  efforts  which  may  not  be  made  consistently  with  their 
Btate  of  health,  or  other  inevitable  circumstances.  This  is  by  no  means  the 
case;  nor  is  the  salary  which  they  receive  affected  by  the  extent  or  limits 
of  their  missionary  operations.  Nay,  had  his  health  continued  to  decline 
BO  far  as  to  render  the  discharge  of  his  duties  even  more  irregular  and  par- 
tial than  they  have  been  for  the  several  years  last  past,  the  writer  is  persuad- 
ed that  his  salary  would  never  have  been  in  any  degree  diminished,  in  con- 
sequence thereof,  by  that  venerable  and  benevolent  body  who  watch  with 
such  kind  and  parental  care  over  the  missionaries  employed  in  their  service. 

Still,  when  the  conscientious  labourer  in  the  vineyard  of  Christ,  looks 
round  upon  an  extensive  and  desolate  portion  of  this  vineyard,  dependant, 
as  it  were,  upon  his  efforts ;  and  while  he  feels  himself  unequal  to  its  suc- 
cessful cultivation,  has  reason  to  suppose  that  some  one,  fitted  by  strength 
of  constitution  for  more  vigorous  exertion,  would  be  likely  to  succeed  to 
his  place  —  it  becomes,  with  him,  a  grave  and  momentous  question,  wheth- 
er, under  such  circumstances,  he  be  not  called  upon  by  the  indications  of 
Divine  Providence,  to  relinquish  for  another,  a  post,  to  the  duties  of  which 
he  is  no  longer  adequate,  and  to  seek  for  himself  what  might  seem  a  more 
suitable  situation  in  the  Church  of  God. 


'■>.. 


■ 


i 


"> 

-i 


and  do  his  will,  liiiml»ly  trust,  that,  through  the  blessing  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  1  ^hnll  fuel  culiiily  resigned  to  his  dispensations  con- 
cerning ino  whiitovcr  they  miiy  he. 

It  has  been  my  endeavour,  to  /v-exaininc  the  motives  which  first 
induced  me  to  enter  the  sanctuary,  and  to  serve  at  the  altar  of 
(/'hrist.  Those  vows  of  God  which  arc  upon  mc,  I  have  cordinUif 
renewed — have,  through  his  grace,  solemnly  <levoted  myself 
anew  to  the  Saviour's  service,  as  a  minister  of  his  Gospel,  praying 
that  he  would  direct  my  steps,  and  guide  me  to  that  portion  of  the 
great  vineyard,  which  he  may  have  marked  out  for  the  scene  of 
my  futiue  labours. 

And  now,  bihold,  I  know  that  yc  all,  among  whom  I  have  ifonc 
preaching  the  kingdom  of  (Jud,  shall  sec  my  face  no  more.     At 
least,  yc  shall  see  my  face  no  more  in  the  relation  I  liavo  hither- 
to borne  to  you ;  and,  in  all  human  probability,  we   shall  never 
meet  again  on  this  side  eternity.  V 

Although  the  words  of  the  text  were  used  by  the  great  Apostl.: 
of  the  Gentiles,  and  that,  too,  upon  an  occasion  peculiarly  solenn 
and  distinguished  ;  still,  I  trust  that  they  may  be  consistently  ac- 
commodated to  our  proBont  purpose,  adapted  as  they  are  toexcit; 
reflections  so  very  appropriate.  The  most  unworthy  minister  o;, 
Christ,  is  appointed  to  preach  "  the  kingdom  of  God ;"  and,  in 
taking  leave  of  that  flock  with  the  oversight  of  which  he  has  for 
many  years  been  charged,  it  will  be  his  desire  to  exhort  them  to 
review  with  him  the  period  in  which  he  may  have  gone  in  and 
out  among  them.  "        '  ' 

In  discoursing  from  the  text,  I  shall,  in  the  first  place,  briefly 
explain  the  meaning  of  the  phrase,  "  IVic  kingdom  of  God;  " 
secondly,  show  what  it  is  to  "  preach  "  the  kingdom  of  God  j  and, 
thirdly,  endeavor  to  make  such  application  of  the  subject  as  the 
present  occasion  may  seem  to  suggest. 

I.  First,  then,  I  am  to  explain  the  meaning  of  the  phrase  — 
The  kingdom  of  God. 

1.  This  expression  is  sometimes  used,  to  signifv  the  blessings 
of  the  Gospel  dispensation  in  general.  Thus,  our  Saviour  says 
to  the  Jews  —  '*  The  kingdom  of  God  shall  be  taken  from  you, 
and  given  to  a  nation  bringing  forth  the  fruits  thereof."  Again 
—  "I  must  preach  the  kingdom  of  God  to  other  r.ities  also." 
2 


10 


1 1 


2.  But  more  particularly — it  is  called  the  "  kingdom  of  God," 
because  it  is  a  spiritual  kingdom  —  set  up  in  the  hearts  of  be- 
lievi  :s  on  earth,  and  receiving  its  consummation  in  the  kingdom 
of  heavenly  glory. 

!•  It  is  set  up  in  the  hearts  of  believers  on  earth.  The  Lord 
Jesus,  then,  has  a  kingdom  here ;  not  such  a  one  as  the  Jews 
expected  the  Messiah  to  establish  —  a  kingdom  of  earthly  glory 
and  dominion.  No :  with  reference  to  this,  he  has  himself  de- 
clared, that  his  "  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world."  It  is  opposed 
to  all  its  pomp  and  pride  ;  and  pours  contempt  on  all  its  imaginary 
greatness.  It  "  cotncth  not  with  observation"  —  that  is,  does  not 
present  itself  to  our  senses  surrounded  with  any  visible  splendour. 
It  has  its  seat  in  the  heart  of  God's  children,  by  which  he  dwells 
in  them  and  walks  in  them  —  by  v»hich  he  is  their  God,  and  they 
his  people ;  by  which  they  are  "  delivered  from  the  power  of 
darkness,  and  translated  into  the  kingdom  of  his  dear  Son  "  —  a 
kingdom  of  "  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost." 
2.  This  kingdom,  further,  is  intended  to  prepare  the  subjects 

X  of  it  for  the  kingdom  of  everlasting  glory  in  heaven.     Heaven 

\       opld  not  be  a  place  of  happiness,  if  tbo  soul  were  not  prepared 
\,o  relish  its  pure  enjoyments.     It  is  in  the  present  state  of  trial 

^'  dnd  probation,  that  the  followers  of  their  Redeemer  are  "  made 
meet  to  be  partakers  of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light." 
Christ  tells  them,  "  In  the  world  ye   shall   have   tribulation." 

•'  This  is  not,  and  cannot  be,  a  state  of  repose  ;  but  a  scene  of  con- 
tinued conflict.  Christians  have  enemies,  numerous  and  power- 
ful, to  encounter,  as  they  pursue  their  journey  heavenward. 
But  tliey  have  placed  themselves  under  the  guidance  of  Jesus. 
He  is  "the  captain  of  their  salvation."  He  has  himself  been 
made  "  perfect  through  sufferings."  His  people,  also,  shall  be 
"mor^  than  conquerors  through  him  that  loved  them."  It  is 
their  privilege  to  say  with  the  Apostle,  "The  Lord  shall  deliver 
me  from  every  evfl  work,  and  will  preserve  me  unto  his  heavenly 
kingdom."  Christ  gives  them  power  from  on  high,  to  triumph 
over  all  their  enemies.  He  leads  them  to  victory.  He  cheers 
them  with  the  animating  promise  —  "  To  him  that  oversometh, 
will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me  in  my  throne  ;  even  as  I  also  overcame 
and  am  set  down  with  my  Father  in  his  throne."  *  "-   -*  *  " 

Thus,  the  kingdom  of  Gc  i  is  „hat  spiritual  kingdom ^  set  up  in 
the  hearts  of  his  people  on  earth,  by  which,  hire,  they  are  "  re- 


"*^Mi«^ 


i 


;J 


."f,»ils 


wmmmmms: 


11 


"■'»*t«,*'*^ 


I 


decrnefl  out  of  the  house  of  servants"  —  "  redeemed  from  all  ini- 
quity;" and,  hereafter,  shall  be  made  "kings  and  priests  unto 
God,"  and  reign  with  him  for  ever  and  ever." 

II.  Hence,  preaching  "the  kingdom  of  God,"  or,  as  it  is  call- 
ed in  other  passages  of  the  New  Testament,  "  the  Gospel  of  the 
kingdom,"  includes  the  whole  of  that  message  tvith  ichi'-h  the  min- 
isters of  Christ  arc  charged,  andtohich  they  arc  solemnly  hound 
to  deliver  to  the  souls  committed  to  their  care. 

1.  They  are  soldiers.     They  lead  the  hosts  of  the  spiritual  Is- 
rael.    Accordingly,   St.   Paul  exhorts  Timothy  to  "  war  a  good 
warfare,"  and  to  "  endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus 
Christ."      They  are  sent   to   contend   with  "the  god  of  this 
world  "  —  the  prince  of  the   power  of  the    air,  the   spirit  that 
now  worketh  in  the  "  children   of  disobedience."     Nay,  they 
have  to  encounter  the  confederated  hosts  of  earth  and  hell.     With 
these  great  enemies  to  the  cause  of  God,  they  are  commissioned 
and   commanded  to  maintain  an  uncompromising  war.     They 
come  not,  however,  in  their  own  name  ;  but  in  his  name,  and  by 
his  authority,  before  whom  the  nations  of  the  earth  "  are  as  th 
small  dust  of  the  balance  "  —  who  is  "  King  of  kings,  and  Loi 
of  lords."       Moreover;  "the  weapons  of  their  warfare  aid  lu 
carnal "  — not  such  as  human  wisdom  or  carnal  policy  would  s»^^ 
gest  —  "  but  mighty  through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strofig 
holds."     Thus  prepared — they  come  to  destroy  the  power  of 
Satan,  and  to  advance  the  triumphs  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 
They  are  sent  forth,  to  rescue  from  the  cruel  grasp  of  that  prince 
of  darkness,  the  degraded  victims  of  pollution  and  misery  ;  that 
they  may  present  them  the  trophies  of  his  grace,  who  "  shall  see 
of  the  travail  of  his  soul  and  be  satisfied  "  — "  to  open  their  eyes, 
and  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of 
Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may  receive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and 
inheritance  among  them  which  are  sanctified."     This  suggests 
another  office  which  they  sustain  —  ^ 

2.  They  are  ambassadors.  "  We  then  as  ambassadors  for  Christ, 
beseech  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God."  They  are 
authorized  to  offer  a  free  and  full  pardon  to  all  who  are  willing 
to  lay  down  the  weapons  of  rebellion.  They  are  to  exhort  thoise 
who  are  far  from  God  by  wicked  works,  to  seek  his  mercy  while 
it  may  be  found,  that  their  sins  may  be  washed  out  in  the  blood 


12 


^:    t- 


of  Jesus  —  warning  them,  at  the  same  time,  what  must  be  the 
consequences  of  rejecting  these  gracious  invitations.     In  a  word 

—  in  imitation  of  their  heavenly  Master,  who  '*  came  to  seek  and 
to  save  that  which  was  lost,"  they  are  to  search  for  wandering 
and  perishing  sinners,  that  they  may  be  brought  to  Christ,  and 
made  partakers  of  his  salvation. 

3.  But  this  is  not  all.  They  are,  also,  shepherds.  The  great  Shep, 
herd  solemnly  charges  them  —  **  Feed  my  lambs  "  —  "  Feed  my 
sheep ; "  and  his  inspired  Apostle  —  "  Take  heed  unto  yourselves, 
and  to  Jill  the  flock,  over  the  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made 
you  overseers,  to  feed  the  Church  of  God  which  he  hath  purchased 
with  his  own  blood."  Not  only,  then,  are  they  to  labour  for  the 
conversion  of  souls  ;  but  to  accompany  them,  as  they  pursue  their 
christian  pilgrimage.    Not  ignorant  themselves  of  Satan's  devices 

—  they  are  to  apprize  them  of  the  stratagems  of  this  great  spirit- 
ual enemy,  and  warn  them  lest  he  get  an  advantage  over  them. 
They  are  to  comfort  them  in  sorrow  —  to  assist  them  in  difficul- 
ties —  to  seek  them  when  they  wander  — '  to  commend  them  to 
the  care  of  Him  "  that  is  able  to  keep  them  from  falling." 

Such,  then,  are  some  of  the  solemn  duties  of  flmoo  who  are 

nt  to  preach  the  kingdom  of  liod  —  to  deliver  the  slaves  of  sin, 

'     a  bondage  worse  than  Egyptian;  and  to  lead  them,  through 

this  '  great  and  terrible  wilderness,"  to  the  land  of  spiritual  promise 

—  keeping  the  eye  of  faith  on  that  great  Being,  who  is  "the  pil- 
lar of  fire"  to  direct  their  course,  till  they  reach  a  better  country, 
even  an  heavenly,  and,  with  those  whom  it  has  been  their  distin- 
guished privilege  to  feed  and  to  guide,  join  the  rans(tmed  multi- 
tude before  the  "  throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb."  —  "  And  who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things  ? " 

We  might  indeed,  at  first  view,  be  inclined  to  believe,  that 
none  but  an  angel  of  God  —  one  of  those  "  ministering  spirits  " 
who  "  do  his  commandments,  hearkening  unto  the  voice  of  his 
word" — that  none  other  could  be  qualified  for  conveying  his 
message  of  salvation  to  a  sinful  world.  But  here,  the  Almighty, 
with  the  compassion  of  a  father,  comes  down  to  our  infirmities  ; 
and  manifests  his  goodness,  while  he  displays  his  wisdom.  If 
the  great  "  High  Priest  of  our  profession,"  Jesus  Christ,  "  was  in 
all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are,"  that  he  might  be  touched  with 
a  feeling  of  our  infirmities  —  are  we  not,  my  dear  brethren,  con- 


•:2aiw 


*"  ^        i'i^ 


13 


--^a;--*- ' 


'^J>.^v'^ 


/"■"Vii4#^ 


t 


J^-. 


L 


strained  to  acknowledge  the  loving  kindness  of  God,  in  ordaining, 
that  the  minister  of  his  Son's  Gospel,  should  be  taken  from  among 
that  same  fallen  race  to  whom  he  is  commissioned  to  preach?  — 
that  he  should  be  one  who  has  himself  felt  the  load  of  sin  and 
guilt,  in  order  that  he  may  sympathize  with  the  penitent  sinner, 
and  lead  him  to  that  Saviour  in  whom  he  has  found  rest  1  —  "  one 
who  can  have  compassion  on  the  ignorant,  and  on  them  that  are 
out  of  the  way;  for  th^t  he  himself  also  is  compassed  with  infir- 
mity." 

In  selecting  such  instruments,  moreover,  the  Most  High  prob- 
ably intends  to  teach  us,  that  the  success  of  their  efforts  is  owing 
entirely  to  a  divine  influence  —  that  the  vork  of  salvation,  from 
beginning  to  end,  is  his  work  "  who  commanded  the  light  to  shine 
out  of  darkness."  "  We  have  this  treasure  in  earthen  vessels,  that 
the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of  God,  and  not  of  us."  The 
ministers  of  Jesus  Christ  feel,  or  ought  to  feel,  that  they  are  "not 
sufficient,  of  themselves,  to  think  any  thing  as  of  themselves," 
Their  "  sufficiency  is  of  God."  He,  and  He  only  can  make  them 
**  able  ministers  of  the  New  Testament."  The  consideration  of 
i,hese  affecting  truths  should  awaken  the  sympathies,  and  excite  i^ 
fervent  prayers,  of  God's  people,  iu  behalf  of  those  who  are  cha 
ed  with  an  office  so  momentous  and  responsible.  In  thenselves, 
weak  and  helpless  —  they  have  no  strength  except  wh.at  they  derive 
from  that  great  Shepherd,  by  whom  the  most  feeble  of  the  flock 
is  sustained.  Having  been  "  by  nature  the  children  of  wratl  ven 
as  others,"  and  being  still  polluted  with  the  remains  of  sin,  they 
have  no  source  of  comfort  or  confidence,  but  in  looking  to  "the 
Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world  "  —  that  same 
compassionate  friend  of  sinners,  to  whom  they  would  direct  every 
penitent  transgressor  for  pardon  and  peace.  Should  it  be  their 
unhapplness  to  have  little  visible  fruit  of  their  labours  —  to  seem 
to  address  themselves  to  eyes  that  will  not  see,  and  ears  that  will 
not  hear,  and  hearts  that  will  not  understand  —  while  they  pray 
for  those  who  receive  not  their  message,  they  must  leave  events 
with  Him  who  has  said,  that  his  word  shall  not  return  unto  him 
void  ;  and,  with  whatever  success  their  efforts  should  appear-  to 
be  crowned  —  they,  the  unworthy,  though  honored,  instruments, 
must  prostrate  themselves  in  the  dust,  and  say  —  **  Not  unto  us, 
O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name,  give  the  praise." 


14 


III.  Having  thus  briefly  explained  the  meaning  of  the  expres 
sion,  "The  kingdom  of  God,"  and,  hence,  endeavoured  to  show 
what  is  meant  by  *•  preaching  "  the  kingdom  of  God  —  I  proceed, 
in  the  last  place,  to  make  sitch  application  of  this  subject,  as  may 
seem  suggested  by  the  solemn  occasion  upon  which  we  are  this  day 
assembled.  '* 

It  would  not  become  me,  brethren,  confidently  to  say  with  the 
Apostle,  in  the  words  connected  with  the  text  —  "  I  am  pure  from 
the  blood  of  all  men."  More  appropriate,  perhaps,  would  be  his 
language  upon  another  occasion — "I  have  been  with  you  in 
weakness,  and  in  fear,  and  in  much  trembling."  But  though  I 
would  not  say,  that  "  I  have  not  shunned  to  declare  unto  you  the 
whole  counsel  of  God  ; "  or,  that  I  have  fully  obeyed  the  solemn 
charge  addressed  to  Timothy,  and  applicable  to  every  minister  of 
the  Gospel,  "  Be  instant  in  season,  out  of  season ;  reprove,  rebuke, 
exhort,  with  all  long  suffering  and  doctrine  "  —  yet  this  much  I 
humbly  hope  I  may  venture  to  affirm,  — that,  wherein  I  have  fail- 
ed, it  has  not  been  through  want  of  a  sincere  intention  to  "  make 
full  proof  of  my  ministry,"  by  testifying  to  you  "  the  Gospel  of  the 

-Vie  of  God."  My  "  prayer  "  for  you  has  hnen,  that  "  you  might 
a^ved  J "  and  it  has  been  my  desire  to  be  instrumental  in  pro- 
moting'your  salvation.  This  desire,  I  confess,  has  not  always' 
been  equally  fervent ;  nor  perhaps,  ai  any  time,  of  that  constrain- 
ing degree  which  the  ministers  of  Christ  ought  continually  to  feel. 
Not  bnly,  has  the  discharge  oim^  duties,  in  late  years,  been  great- 
ly interrupted  by  ill  health  ;  but,  throughout  the  whole  course  of 
my  ministry  among  you,  I  feel  conscious  that  those  duties  have 
been  very,  imperfectly  performed,  and  I  pray  God  that  my  own 
deficiences  may  not  be  permitted  to  operate  as  a  hinderance  to 
any  of  your  souls.  I  beg  also,  herein,  ray  dear  brethren  an  inter- 
est in  the  prayers  of  those  among  you  who  frequent  the  throne 
of  grace. 

Still,  "  I  take  you  to  record,"  that,  however  feebly  and  imper- 
fectly, I  have  preached  to  you  from  this  pulpit,  the  "  everlasting 
Gospel "  of  our  Lord'and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ ;  and,  in  some  de- 
gree, as  far  as  the  circumstances  of  such  a  widely-scattered  pop- 
ulation would  admit,  have  exhorted  you  **  from  house  to  house," 
beseeching  you  to  attend  to  *'  the  things  which  belong  to  your 
peace,"  before  they  should  be  for  ever  "  hid  from  your  eyes,"  as 
your  own  consciences  must  this  day  testify. 


<; 


w.~ 


/ 


16 


I- 


M' 


I  have  sought  to  erjjlain  and  ci\forrr  the  leading  dortrinra  and 
precepts  of  the  Bible.  I  have  aimed  to  bring  you  to  that  know- 
ledge of  yourselves,  which  alone  can  lead  to  the  knowledge  ofGod 
and  to  that  spiritual  acquaintance  with  him,  which  is  the  only 
source  of  true  happiness.  This  has  led  me  to  invite  you  to  the  con- 
templation of  his  glorious  attributes,  as  far  as  wc  ma^  comprehend 
them;  and,  thus,  to  convince  you  of  the  necessity  of  that  "holi- 
ness without  which  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord."  You  have  been 
taught,  that  of  such  holiness  afl  are  by  nature  destitute  —  that 
"  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God  ;"  and  that,  therefore, 
"except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God."  The  nature  and  evidences  of  this  change  have  been  set 
before  you.  You  have  been  warned  of  the  i\angcr  of  pharisnieal 
presumption  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  antinomian  delusion  on  the 
other ;  that  is,  you  have  b^en  taught,  that  a  correct  outward  de- 
portment, or,  in  the  common  me?  ;g  of  the  phrase,  a  moral  life 
can  never  supply  the  place,  or  preclude  the  necessity,  of  that  en- 
tire conversion  of  the  heart  unto  God,  without  which,  the  com- 
paratively virtuous,  as  well  as  the  completely  vi  "  >t»d/are  "in  the 
gall  of  bitterness,  and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity"  — "  dead  in  tr?«pass- 
es  and  sins ;  "  —  and,  on  the  contrary,  'lat  ail  pretensions  to  tlk^ 
change,  unaccompanied  with  an  entire  conversion  of  the  herrt 
unto  God,  spirituality  of  affections,  and  holiness  of  life  —  are  vain 
and  delusive.  In  lew  words  —  religion  has  been  represented  to 
you,  as  having  its  seat  in  the  heart  —  as  possessing  a  power  and 
reality,  which,  in  order  to  be  understood,  must  be  felt  and  expe- 
rienced ;  while  those  who  are  brought  under  its  transforming  influ- 
ence, have  been  described  —  as  separated  from  a  world  that  "  lieth 
in  wickedness,"  "  sanctified  in  Christ  Jesus,"  as  having  become 
"  partakers  of  the  divine  nature,"  made  "a  peculiar  people  zealous 
of  good  works,"  showing  forth  "  the  praises  of  him  who  hath  called 
them  out  of  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light."  You  have  been 
taught,  that  all,  who  remain  destitute  of  these  evidences,  stop 
short  of  true  religion;  that,  whatever  may  be  their  character  in 
other  respects,  they  are  not  disciples  of  Jesus,  and,  consequently, 
have  no  scriptural  ground  for  hoping  that  they  "  shall  escape  the 
damnation  of  hell." 

The  more  particular  duties  of  the  Christian  life  —  devotional 
and  practical  —  have  not  been  forgotten.     Believers  have  been 


10 


..i^' 


exhorted,  as  their  duty  and  privilege,  to  "grow  in  grace  "  —  to 
seek  for  increasingly  higher  attainments  in  the  divine  life  —  tn 
adopt  for  their  motto  the  language  of  the  Apostle,  **  This  one 
thing  I  do,  forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind,  and  reaching 
forth  unto  those  things  which  are  before,  I  press  towar<l  themaiic 
for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus." 

The  blessings  thus  imperfectly  described,  have  been  set  before 
you  as  the  purchase  of  a  dying  Saviour's  love,  and  the  fruit  of 
that  JIoli/  Spirit's  influence  which  takes  of  the  things  of  Christ 
and  shows  them  to  the  soul.  They  have  been  held  forth  as  offer- 
ed to  all  who  are  willing  to  receive  them.  Guilty,  and  lost, 
and  ruined  sinners,  have  been  invited  to  come  and  partake  them; 
and  you  have  been  told,  that  none  are  excluded,  but  those  who 
wilfully  exclude  themselves. 

The  time,  brethren,  does  not  permit  me  to  extend  this  scanty 
outline,  for,  thus  far,  I  have  aJready  occupied  more  space  than  I 
intended,  and  have  yet  mahy  things  to  say.  Your  own  memo- 
ries and  convictions  must  therefore  supply  the  deficienc}.  "  ^e 
know  how  thr^^ugh  infirmity  of  the  flesh,  I  have  preached  the 
Gospel  Jiiito  you ;"  and  my  prayer  is,  that  what  has  thus  been 
er  *vn  in  much  weakness,  may  be  raised  in  power,  to  the  glory  of 
God  and  the  salvation  of  many  of  your  souls ! 

Over  some  of  you,  I  trust  1  may  be  permitted  to  rejoice,  as 
the  seals  of  my  ministry.  This,  amidst  much  that  causes  painful 
concern,  is  truly  an  alleviating  source  of  consolation.  Delight- 
ful thought !  —  to  have  been  made  instrumental  in  saving  only 
one  soul  from  everlasting  burnings,  in  bringing  one  wandering 
prodigal  to  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  a  cparation  for  the  joys 
of  heaven  —  this,  this  alone,  were  a  rewaiu  —  a  rich  reward,  for 
years  of  anxiety  and  toil. 

The  providence  of  God  is  now  calling  me  away.  For  all  the 
kindness  I  have  experienced  during  my  residence  among  you, 
and  for  every  particular  instance  of  it,  accept  the  expression  of 
my  grateful  feelings.  I  need  not  assure  you,  that  my  prayers 
shall  be  offered  to  the  Author  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  that 
his  goodness  and  mercy  may  follow  you  all  the  days  of  your  life. 
Especially,  may  he  give  you  the  best  of  all  blessings  —  a  faith- 
ful minister  of  his  Son's  Gospel  —  a  pastor  after  his  own  heart  — 
one  who  will  rejoice  to  heal  that  which  is  diseased,  to  bring  again 


, 


}  ] 


17 


that  which  i8  lost,  to  bint!  up  that  which  is  broken  —  one,  whose 
''ibours  may  bo  more  zealous,  and  fur  more  successful,  than  mine 
have  ever  i)ccn !  And  while  I  pray  that  you  may  have  such  a 
shepherd  and  such  a  friend,  I  earnestly  desire  to  be  remembered 
also  in  your  prayers.  Remember,  ye  who  draw  near  to  God  — 
remember  one,  who,  in  much  infirmity,  has  so  lon<r  sought  your 
good.  Pray  that  the  divine  presence  may  go  with  me — that  I 
may  have  grace  to  realize  the  value  of  souls,  and  to  labour  for 
their  salvation  —  that  I  may  faithfully  feed  that  flock  over  which 
the  Holy  Ghost  may  make  me  overseer,  and  at  last,  through  the 
rich  mercy  of  God  our  Saviour,  "  finish  my  course  with  joy." 

Since,  then,  this  is  the  last  opportunity  of  meeting  together 
within  these  walls,  which  the  present  pastor  and  his  flock  shall 
jver  be  permitted  to  enjoy  —  since  we  shall  probably  meet  no 
more,  till  waked  by  the  trump  of  God,  "  Arise  ye  dead  and  come 
to  judgment,"  —  allow  me,  I  entreat  you,  to  descend  into  your 
hearts.     Give  me  your  serious   and  impartial  attention,  while  1 
endeavour  to  assist  you  in  examining  what  improvement  has  been 
made  of  the  means  of  grace  and  salvation  that  have  been  afford- 
ed youj  during  the  period   in  which  we  have  walked  together  lo 
this  house  of  God.      And  let  us  lift  our  earnest  prayers,  thatth 
special  blessings  of  the  Holy  Spirit  may  be  shed  forth  upon  tlis 
congregation,  that  something  more  than  merely  natural  sensibilities 
may  be  awakened  —  that  those  of  us  who  have  tasted  the  grace  of 
Jesus,  may  be  excited  to  greater  devotedness  in  his  service  !  and 
that  hearts  which  have  hitherto  never  relented,  may  feel,  this  day, 
the  softenings  of  contrition  ! 

1.  In  the  first  place,  I  shall  address  myself  to  those  among  you 
who  have  scriptural  grounds  for  believing-  that  you  have  cordially 
received  the  message  of  salvation. 

And  here  I  would  not  discourage  the  weak  disciples  of  him 
who  has  said,  "  Feed  my  lambs."  Ye  well  know  that  I  have  fed 
such  of  you  "  with  milk  and  not  with  meat."  I  have  endeavoured 
to  calm  your  fears,  to  remove  your  doubts,  to  teach  you  the  kind- 
ness and  compassion  of  Jesus.  I  have  sympathized  with  you  in 
seasons  of  trial ;  and  now  I  commend  you  to  him  who  feels  for 
you  what  his  under  shepherds  can  never  feel  —  who  himself 
carries  "  the  lambs  in  his  arms  and  bears  them  on  his  bosom." 
Open  continually  your  heart  to  him.  Tell  him  all  your  sins. 
Make  known  to  him  all  your  wants,  temptations,  and  sorrows. 
When  ready  to  sink  under  the  consciousness  of  your  own  unwor- 


tt^rfWWK*  <.»«-»wt«»>*W»W 


18 


\if> 


m 


I*- 


thiness,  think  of  his  mercy  and  love.  He  shed  for  you  his  aton- 
ing blood.  11c  died  for  you  on  the  cross  of  Calvary.  He  now 
intercedes  for  you  before  his  Father,  and  your  Father  —  his  Qod, 
and  your  God.  lie  sees  you  from  his  throne  in  the  heavens,  and 
says  to  you  —  "  Fear  not ;  I  am  the  first  and  the  last :  I  am  he 
that  liveth  and  was  dead  ;  and  behold  I  am  alive  for  evermore." 
Look,  then,  to  him  in  persevering  prayer ;  and  regard  not  the 
suggestions  of  Satan,  when  he  would  tempt  you  to  fear  that  you 
are  cast  out  from  his  sight.  "  Ask  and  receive,  that  your  joy 
may  be  full." 

But  while  endeavouring  to  comfort  and  encourage  the  weak  in 
faith  ;  let  me,  at  the  same  time,  exhort  all  who  suppose  them- 
selves to  belong  to  Christ,  to  search  and  see  whether  they  be 
verily  and  in  truth  his  disciples.  "  Examine  yourselves,  whether 
ye  be  in  the  faith :  prove  your  own  selves."  Rest  not  without 
clear  and  satisfactory  evidences,  that  you  really  belong  to  that 
"little  flock,"  to  whom  it  is  the  **  Father's  good  pleasure  to  give 
the  kingdom." 

If,  brethren,  ye  be  Christians  indeed,  how  distinguished  and 
exalted  is  your  character !  you  have  turned  your  backs  on  a 
wicked  world ;  and  have  set  your  faces  toward  Zion,  the  city  of 
the  living  God.  You  have  a  hope  which  you  would  not  exchange 
for  empires.  Having  then  begun  well  in  the  ways  of  God,  show 
**  all  diligence  to  the  full  assurance  of  hope  unto  the  end  :  that 
ye  be  not  slothful ;  but  followers  of  them,  who  through  faith  and 
patience,  inherit  the  promises." 

The  limits  of  this  discourse  will  not  allow  me  to  be  very  mi- 
nute ;  but  some  particular  dangers  that  may  beset  you,  I  would 
briefly  point  out ;  and  say  a  few  words  to  animate  you  in  your 
Christian  course  — 

1.  First  —  beware  o( false  pretenders  to  religion.  If  you  meet 
with  persons  who  make  high  pretensions  to  experience  in  the 
things  of  God,  whose  prevailing,  habits,  notwithstanding,  are  not 
agreeable  to  the  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  however  fluently  or  plau- 
sible they  may  speak  on  religious  subjects,  —  regard  them  not. 
Remember  the  words  of  Christ,  "  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know 
them." 

2.  Again  :  suspect  those  who  love  to  cherish  a  party  spirit. 
When  such  as  profess  to  be  Christians,  seem  mainly  anxious  to 
range  themselves  under  the  banners  of  a  party,  contending,  ear- 


I 


19 


ncstly  perhaps,  for  this  or  that  point  of  doctrine,  wljcthcr  impor- 
tant or  not —  while  they  are  indiflcrcnt  and  coUl  with  regard  to 
cultivating  in  themselves,  or  promoting  in  the  hearts  and  lives  of 
others,  the  "  fruits  of  holiness,"  destitute  of  humility  and  the 
love  of  Christ —  "  from  such  turn  away." 

These  several  classes  of  characters  have  proved  to  many  a 
stumhiing-block.  Be  not  ye,  however,  disturbed  or  perplexed  on 
account  of  such  things  ;  for  there  have  always  been  those  who 
"  profess  to  know  God,  but  who  in  works  deny  him  ;  "  and  there 
may  be  the  zeal  of  Jehu,  while  the  "  heart  is  not  right  with  God." 
"  Ye  therefore,  beloved,  seeing  ye  know  these  things  before,  be- 
ware lest  ye  also,  being  led  away  with  the  error  of  the  wicked, 
fall  from  your  own  steadfastness." 

3.  A  third  source  of  danger,  the  greater  because  less  likely  to 
be  suspected,  is  this  — jifflffing  of  i/oiir  own  spiritual  ctate  by 
roinparitiir  yourselves  with  those  whom  yon  regard  as  establishca 
Christians.  This  danger  is  particularly  great  in  the  present  day. 
There  is  too  much  deference  given  to  the  supposed  experience, 
and  aetufd practice,  of  eminent  professors  ;  and  too  little  to  the 
unerring  standard  — the  word  of  God. 

For  instance  :  — '  Such  a  christian  brother  says,  that  his  mi^i- 
is  dark,  that  his  affections  are  earthly,  that  he  has  little  rel- 
ish for  prayer  or  communion  with  God.  Need  I  then,  who  am 
by  no  means  so  far  advanced  in  the  divine  life  —  need  I  wonder 
that  it  should  be  so  with  me?  '  Now,  the  apostle  speaks  of  some 
in  his  day,  who  thus  compared  "  themselves  amongst  them- 
selves." But  does  he  approve  their  conduct?  No  :  —  he  says  of 
them,  that  "  they  are  not  wise." 

Take  another  instance  :  *  Such  a  one  mingles  a  good  deal  in 
the  society  of  worldly  persons,  nor  do  his  life  and  conversation 
seem  to  give  offence  :  nay,  he  occasionally  joins  in  their  vain  re- 
creations. Or,  he  is  fond  of  gain,  and  sometimes  shows  a  dispo- 
sition to  take  advantage  of  the  ignorance  or  necessity  of  those 
with  whom  he  has  dealings  —  does  unto  others,  what  he  would 
not  have  others  do  unto  him.  Or,  he  sadly  deviates  from  sim- 
plicity and  sincerity  in  his  conversation.  Or,  he  is  of  an  unkind 
and  even  resentful  or  implacable  disposition.  And  still  he  seems 
to  be  a  pious  man  !'  But  is  this  the  testimony  of  God  concerning 
him  ?  Hear  the  declarations  of  his  own  word  with  regard  to  such 
things  —  "  Come  out  from  among  them  and  be  ye  separate,  and 


.-.I- 


I 


30 


touch  not  the  unclean  thing  "  —  "  Love  not  the  world,  neither  the 
tilings  that  are  in  the  world  :  if  any  man  love  tho  world,  the  lovo 
of  tho  Father  is  not  in  him" — "All  things  whatHocver  yo 
would  that  inon  should  do  to  you,  do  yo  even  so  to  them  "  — 
"  Speak  yo  cvory  man  truth  with  his  neighbour  "  —  "  Thou  shalt 
love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself."  Brethren  !  *'  These  arc  spots  in 
your  feasts  of  charity." 

I  cannot  enlarge.  Those  brief  hints  may  perhaps  assist  in  il- 
lustrating my  meaning.  My  dear  brethren !  watch  ye  against 
snares  so  insidious,  or  ye  may  become  entangled  and  hindered. 
Judge  as  charitably  as  ye  consistent  1 1/ cun  of  the  character  of  oth- 
ers. But  for  youselves,  follow  none,  except  so  far  as  they  follow 
Christ —  no  matter  what  their  professions;  what  their  seeming 
piety  in  many  respects ;  or  their  religious  state,  in  the  estimation 
of  Christians  in  general.  While,  therefore,  you  cherish  an  "  un- 
feigned love  of  the  brethren,"  while  you  "  love  one  another  with  a 
pure  heart  fervently"  —  lean  only  upon  God.  Expect  not  here  to 
find  models  for  your  imitation  ;  but  look  to  your  great  exemplar  — 
Jesus  Christ,  and  seek  "  to  walk  even  as  he  also  walked." 

4.  But  the  greatest  danger  is  trom  within — frotn  your  otcn  de- 
".itful  hearts.  To  this  point  direct  your  chief  attention.  Re- 
membering continually  your  own  weakness,  and  that  you  are 
•*  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through  faith  unto  salvation  "  —  walk 
humbly  with  him.  Call  yourselves  frequently  to  an  account, 
praying  to  him  to  search  you.  Seek  to  ascertain  whether  you  be 
growing  in  grace;  for  if  not  advancing,  you  are  declining.  Let 
not  a  day  pass  without  solemn  self-examination,  taking  the  word 
of  God  continually  for  your  guide  —  for  "  a  lamp  unto  your  feet 
and  a  light  unto  your  paths."  Much  will  be  gained  by  this 
practice.  It  will,  through  the  divine  blessing,  lead  you  to 
know  more  of  yourselves  ;  and  to  discover,  as  you  penetrate  the 
dark  and  winding  recesses  within,  that  there  —  there  —  lie  the 
great  enemies  of  your  peace.  Your  consciences  will  thus  be 
more  enlightened  and  tender.  You  will  feel  more  of  your  own 
vileness,  and  Christ  will  become  more  exceedingly  precious.  You 
will  see  more  of  the  hatefulness  of  sin,  and  the  beauty  of  holiness  ; 
and  will  increasingly  long  to  have  "  the  mind  that  was  in  Christ 
Jesus."  The  duties  of  the  closnt  will  become  more  delightful ;  and 
the  spirit  which  you  there  imbibe  in  your  intercourse  with  Jeho- 
vah, will  be  manifested  in  your  life  and  conversation  among  your 


21 


fellow  creatures.  You  will  thus  be  oim''U;<i  !o  ris(!  8we(!tly  above 
corrupt  and  ^^i^ful  passious,  and  to  hreaihn  .;i  alinosphurc  that  rc- 
fre«ln'.s  wliih;  it  purifies.  True,  the  world  will  hate,  revile,  and 
oppose  you.  Still,  ill  their  hearts,  they  slii.Il  bo  cotiipc'lh^l  to  ac- 
kiiowlcd;,'!',  that  tliere  is  a  reidity  in  r<'liiji»)ii  :  and  while  you  show 
to  tlios(!  about  you,  that  ye  are  "  ihi;  chihlvn  of  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven,"  they  will  lake  knowlcd^^e  of  you  th  it  you 
have  been  with  Jesus.  Follow  on  thus  "to  know  >lie  Lord," 
and  (),  what  peace  —  what  joy  —  what  iHNivenly-iiiindt'diiess  you 
Hhall  attain  !  —  a  foretaste  ami  earnest  of  the  joys  of  heaven ! 
Such,  my  christian  brethren,  shall  you  htid  to  be  sonic  of  the 
blessed  fruits  of  walkinj^  with  God,  lookiiijr  (o  his  word  for  the 
only  standard  of  truth  and  holiness,  and  leading  a  life  of  watch- 
fulness and  prayer. 

For  the  encourajreinent,  however,  of  all  who  are  engaged  in 
this  warfare,  I  would  add  —  liv  iiitf  dif^roiirn^ril,  fhoiigh  yc  meet 
with  (/ijfiniltha.  Diniciilties  ye  must  expect,  but  fear  them  not. 
"  The  Canaanite  is  still  in  the  land  "  — The  world,  the  flesh,  and 
the  devil  oppose  every  step  of  your  {)rogress.  Corruptions  from 
within  and  temptations  from  without,  will,  through  the  power  of 
your  spiritual  enemy,  bend  their  united  elforts  to  draw  you  asid- 
from  God  —  to  induce  worldly-mindedness,  neglect  of  prayer, 
and  of  other  secret  duties;  and  in  prnporflun  as  you  yield  to 
their  injluenrr,  you  shall  be  exposed  to  "  the  fiery  darts  of  the 
devil."  There  is,  it  is  true,  a  heavenly  Physician,  who  can  heal 
every  wound  those  darts  may  inflict ;  and  who,  if  you  .apply  to 
him,  "  will  heal  your  backslidings,  and  love  ynu  freely."  Should 
you,  therefore,  be  thus  unhappily  prevailed  upon  to  turn  away 
from  that  gracious  and  omnipotent  Being  whose  power  "iione  can 
sustain  you — return  at  once,  and  humble  yourselves  in  contri- 
tion before  him.  But  sink  not  with  despondency,  though  your 
adversaries  may  seem  to  triumph.  Rather  adopt  the  language  of 
the  prophet  —  *'  Rejoice  not  against  me,  O  mine  enemy  :  when  I 
fall,  I  shall  arise ;  when  I  sit  in  darkness,  the  Lord  shall  be  a 
light  unto  me.  I  will  bear  the  indignation  of  the  Lord,  because 
I  have  sinned  against  him — ".  Rise  again  to  the  contest,  made 
wiser,  through  grace,  by  past  experience.  Look  unto  Jesus,  the 
author  and  Jinishcr  of  your  faith.  Renew  your  covenant  with 
hiYn,  and  he  will  say  —  "  Son,  be  of  good  cheer  j  thy  sins  be  for- 
given thee."    Recollect  for  your  comfort,  that  others  have  gone 


i 


*     j» 


99 


I 


before  you  through  the  same  difRculties.  "  They  overca>iie 
througli  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  "  —  and  so  shall  you.  They  have 
entered  into  their  Master's  joy.  "  Be  faithful  unto  death,"  and 
ye  also  shall  receive  "  a  crown  of  life." 

Lastly  :  in  addition  to  the  diligent  use  of  all  those  other  means 
tending  to  invigorate  your  graces,  and  to  animate  you  in  pursu- 
ing the  path  that  lies  before  you,  —  avail  yourselves  o(i  <^ery  op- 
portunity of  commemorating  the  dying  love  of  Jesus,  fh  that  holy 
sacrament  of  which,  to-day,  we  are  to  partake  together  for  the 
last  time.  Do  this  in  remembrance  of  him  who  has  done  so 
much  for  you ;  and  let  this  memorial  of  his  infinite  compassion 
and  i.  jandloss  grace,  constrain  you  to  live  more  devotedly  to 
him,  and  unite  you  one  to  another  by  the  most  endearing  ties  of 
Christian  affection.  May  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  to  redeem  us 
to  God  by  his  blood,  be  with  us,  upon  the  present  occasion,  to 
blesf  us  !  —  to  comfort,  strengthen,  stohlish  us  !  May  the  trials 
of  o'lr  present  separation,  lead  us  to  think  much  of  that  fam  y, 
whose  happy  members,  however  scattered  abroad  in  this  house  of 
the^r  pilgrimage,  shall  meet  in  their  Father's  house  above,  to  part 
no  more  — to  drink  new  wine  with  their  Redeemer  in  the  king- 
'''^ai  of  God!  "And  now,  brethren,  1  commend  you  to  God, 
nd  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you  up,  and 
to  give  you  an  inheritance  among  all  them  which  are  sanctified." 
2.  But  I  have  a  duty  yet  to  perform,  more  painful  than  lan- 
guage can  express  —  to  take  a  final  leave  of  those  in  this  congre- 
gation, who,  for  so  many  years  have  heard  the  Gospel,  and,  to  the 
present  hour,  have  never  embraced  its  offers  of  mercy.  And  O, 
my  heart  sinks  as  the  fearful  apprehension  comes  over  me  —  that 
a  vast  proportion  of  the  numerous  assembly  before  me,  who  now 
fill  this  holy  placo,  are  included  in  this  unhappy  description.  For 
you  —  my  feelings  of  deepest  concern  are  awakened ;  and  im- 
pressed with  a  sense  of  the  solemnities  of  this  day,  I  desire  faith- 
fully and  affectionately  to  give  you  my  parting  counsels.  In  or- 
der that  these,  through  the  divine  blessing,  may  apply  themselves 
as  closely  as  possible,  I  shall  address  you  according  to  the  sever- 
al classes  of  which  you  may  be  supposed  to  consist ;  and  I  charge 
you,  before  God,  to  remember  tjje  account  that  you  must  give. 

1.   There  are  some,  it  is  to  be  feared,  v/ho,  so  far  from  re- 
ceiving the  message  ^vhich  has  been  delivered  in  the  name  of 


,  >.v 


X 


//. 


<^- 


/:^^ 


/. 


.^' 


J  J- 


23 


Kt'-' 


"  il 


Jesus  have,  opposed  the  doctrines  of  his  Gospel,  and  thrown  hin- 
derances  in  the  vjay  of  my  ministry. 

It  is  my  grief  to  ♦hink  that  any  of  you  should  act  a  part  so  aw- 
ful in  its  consequences.  Consider,  I  entreat  you,  what  you  have 
been  doing.  In  opposing  his  ministers,  it  is  Gud,  and  rot  man, 
with  whom  you  contend.  It  is  not  our  own  cause  that  we  de- 
fend, but  his  who  has  said  to  the  preachers  of  his  Gospel  —  "  He 
that  heareth  you,  heareth  me;  and  he  that  despiseth  you,  des- 
piseth  me ;  "  and  who  has  declared,  that  it  shall  be  more  tolerable 
for  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  in  the  day  of  judgment,  than  for  those 
who  receive  not  the  messengers  whom  he  sends.  Alas !  is  not  the 
unhappy  secret  this  —  that  you  love  your  delusions,  and  therefore 
are  unwilling  ■:  he  disturbed  in  them  1  Have  you  not  regarded  me 
as  your  enemy,  because  I  have  told  you  the  truth  ?  Has  not  the 
language  of  your  hearts  been  like  that  of  Ahab  respecting  Micai- 
ah  —  *  As  for  this  man, "  I  hate  him  ;  for  he  doth  not  prophesy  good 
concerning  me,  but  evil "  '  ?  Well  —  now  I  am  about  to  leave 
you.  "  Ye  shall  see  my  face  no  more."  No  more  shall  my  coua- 
sels  and  exhortations  offend  you.  Remember,  however,  that  I 
have  delivered  a  message  from  God.  I  have  told  you  before,  ard 
now  repeat  thp  solemn  warning  —  In  vain  shall  you  seek  for  any 
road  J  heaven,  out  the  "  narrow  way"  which  Christ  has  markod 
out.  Every  other  leads  to  hell.  **  If  thou  return  at  all  in  peace  " 
—  if  you  find  peace  here  or  happiness  hereafter  in  the  path  you 
are  pursuing  —  "  then  the  Lord  hath  not  spoken  by  me."  *  O, 
that  my  last  words  might  penetiate  your  conscience,  and  awaken 
you  to  a  discovery  of  your  delusions.  Pause,  and  examine  your- 
selves, I  affectionately  beseech  you.  Tremble,  while  you  think 
of  the  possibility  of  being  mistaken,  on  a  subject  which  involves 
the  eternal  destinies  of  the  soul.  Contemplate  the  conduct  of 
those  "  noble  "  Bereans  whose  example  is  recorded  for  your  imi- 
tation. Like  them,  search  the  Scriptures.  Search  them  dili- 
gently—  search  them  "  daily."  Bring  our  doctrines  to  that  m- 
fallihle  touchstone.  Implore  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  give 
you  humble  and  teachable  minds ;  and,  like  those  Bereans,  you 
shall  be  taught  of  God  — like  them,  you  shall  have  your  under- 
standings opened  to  understand  those  scriptures  which  you  now 
pervert,  and  which  alone  can  make  you  "  wise  unto  salvation." 


r     r. 


«» 


*  See  1  Kings  zxii.  28. 


f  '"MW 


'-^'■•i--^-^^^^ -■* 


t^jA; 


i. 


34 


I 


/ 


2.   There  aro  others,  who  have  "  cared  Jor  none  of  these  things." 
You  may  not  positively  have  opposed  your  minister ;  but  you 
have  disregarded  his  instructions.     You  have  either  imagined 
yourselves  "  whole,"  and  to  "  have  no  need  of  the  physician  ;  " 
or  you  have  professed  an  .issent  (but  it  has  been  a  cold  unmean- 
ing assent)  to  the  preacher's  words.     His  instructions  and  exhor- 
tations have  been  "  like  water  spilt  upon  the  ground  ;  "  or,  rath- 
er, like  the  seed  which  "  fell  by  the  way  side."     The  Gospel  of 
God  has  been  preached — the  threatenings  of  the  Almighty  have 
sounded  in  your  ears  :  you  have  been  told  of  his  mercy  and  grace, 
and  intreated  to  seek  him  while  he  may  be  found.     Sabbath  af- 
ter sabbath,  and  year  after  year  —  you  have  heard  these  things. 
But  they  have  been  heard,  only  to  be  forgotten.     The  enemy  of 
souls  has  taken  away  the  word  sown  in  your  hearts,  and  left  you 
prayerless  and  careless  still.     The  business  or  the  pleasures  of 
life  have  occupied  your  thoughts  or  engaged  your  affections  ;  and 
God,  the  soul,  and  eternity  —  have  been  lightly  regarded.     But 
think  you,  that  you  shall  have  no  account  to  give  of  the  counsels 
and  warnings  you  have  received  1    Think  you,  because  i/ou  have 
forgotten  them,  that  they  are  therefore  forgotten  in  heaven  — 
that  because  you  remember  them  not,  they  are        rememl  oTed 
Sy  God  ?     Ah !  be  assured  they  are  written  in  tiie  book  of  his 
everlasting  remembrance ;  and  unless  you  awake  from  the  slum- 
bers of  sin  and  seeh  redemption  through  a  Saviour's  blood,  the 
record  will  appear  against  you  in  the  day  of  judgment.     Then  — 
memory  will  faithfully  perform  its  office.     Then  —  conscience 
will  bring  forward  the  catalogue  of  long-forgotten  sins,  and  fasten 
upon  you   her  agonising  stings  of  guilt  and  remorse.     Listen, 
then,  now  to  her  voice.     Be  careless  no  longer.     '*  Awake  thou 
sleeper,  and  call  upon  thy  God ; "  lest  you  awake  at  last  to  la- 
ment —  "  The  harvest  is  past,  the  summer  is  ended,  and  I  am 
not  saved." 

3.  There  is  a  third  class,  to  whom  your  departing  pastor  must 
make  his  last  appeal  — -tJiose  who  have  put  their  hand  to  the  plough 
and  are  looking  back. 

There  was  a  time  when  you  seemed  awakened  to  a  sense  of 
your  si  g,  and  earnestly  desirous  of  fleeing  "  from  tl  ^  wrath  to 
come."  As  the  preacher  reasoned  of  righteousness,  temperance 
and  judgment  to  come  —  you  trembled.  When  he  spoke  of  the 
blessedness  of  religion,  the  compassion  of  a  dying  Redeemer,  the 


( 


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r. 


■■!* 


^AriU^, 


Imt/-.-. 


( 


^r^' 


27 

now  you  know  not  the  value  ?  —  for  one  of  those  precious  Sab- 
baths, which  you  allowed  to  pass  away  in  the  cares  of  the  world, 
or  in  the  follies  and  pleasures  and  vanities  of  life  ?  What  would 
you  then  give  for  one  more  opportunity  of  attending  the  house  of 
God,  of  seeking  him  in  prayer,  and  hearing  o^ice  more  that  long- 
neglected  Gospel  ?  But  alas  !  your  Sabbath  and  Sanctuary  priv- 
■'leges  shall  then  have  come  to  an  end,  and  this  long-neglected 
Gospel  will  have  ceased  to  sound  its  glad  tidings  in  your  ears. 
You  shall  then  look  beyond  the  impassable  gulph,  to  the  heaven 
that  you  have  lost  —  and  lost  for  ever.  What !  and  must  I  in- 
dulge the  dismal  apprehension,  that  this  shall  indeed  be  the  case 
with  any  of  you,  to  whom  your  pastor  is  now  making  his  last  ap- 
peal —  that  that  blessed  Gospel  which  might  be  a  savour  of  life 
unto  life,  shall  thus  prove  a  savour  of  death  unto  death  ?  How 
can  I  leave  you,  —  and  leave  you  in  your  sins !  How  can 
1  say  "farewell"  —  if  it  must  be  an  everlasting  farewell! 
We  have  often  met  together  here  j  have  heard  of  hell  and 
heaven  ;  of  him  who  came  to  burst  the  chains  of  sin,  and  set  the 
r-^ntn'osfree — we  have  often  met  togetht     here,  and  shaL    ve 


# 


foi 


rt  —  to  m" 


■a 


% 


10  more?  Distressing  thought !  Oh,  c  < 
nstances  ;  or  even  in  some  few  instance 
instance,  my  last  exhortations  should 
i  as  years  -xhortation  have  not  been,  how  would  it  com- 
>  heart  of  your  departing  pastor ;  and  with  what  feelings  of 
gratitude  and  joy,  should  we  remember  this  day  throughout  Eter- 
nity ! 

Refuse  me  not,  t>«^n,  one  last  request.  It  is  the  last  that  I  shaU 
ever  make ,  and  1  mtreat  you  —  I  beseech  you,  refuse  me  not. 
Will  you  meet  me  to-day  at  that  throne  of  grace,  where  my 
supplications  shall  be  offered  for  you  ?  and  where  the  prayer  of  the 
repenting  sinner  shall  never  be  presented  in  vain  ?  Will  you  there 
surrender  your  hearts  to  God,  and  implore  the  grace  of  his  Holy 
Spirit,  to  break  the  power  of  sin  within  you  —  to  take  away  the 
heart  of  stone,  and  give  you  an  heart  of  flesh  —  to  plead  the  ofli- 
cacy  of  that  blood  of  Jesus  which  cleanseth  from  all  sin  ?  Say, 
will  you  meet  me  there,  that  we  may  meet  at  last  in  heaven  ? 


J 


>'' 


'  <:  W- 


},r.     ^^■:  ^U.€ 


28  .y 


HYMN. 


t .  -  M} 


\t 


f^lA  ?*■ 


This  house  —  this  sacred  house  of  prayer 

Together  we  have  trod  : 
Oft  liave  the  pastor  and  his  flock 

Met  in  this  house  of'God. 

Plere  we  have  heard  tiie  (j(i<»pers  sound  — 

The  '*  new  and  living  way  :" 
The  wandering  sinner  here  hath  learned 

To  weep,  repent,  and  pray. 

The  "  worshippers  of  Jacob's  God  " 

Have  tasted  of  his  love  — 
Here  has  the  fainting  pilgrilh  found 

The  manna  from  above. 

But  still,  within  these  walls  ^ — 44as  ! 

Seen  by  i.     omniscient  eye, 
W^byKt  souls,  .ii  vain  h|ve  heard  tlie  C{(U--r^ 

^  W7^y,  sinners!  loill ye  die  ?  *    •■* 

We  part  —  on  earth  to  meet  no  more 
;   Ah,  say  !  shall  it  be  given, 
To  meet  before  Jehovah's  throne  — 
TLaJ  glorious  throne  in  heaven  ? 

Thine  holy  arm,  O  Lord  1  make  bare  ! 

Thy  holy  Spirit  give  ! 
That  sinners  now  thy  voice  may  hear  — 

May  hear  thy  voice,  and  live ! 

*  Yea^now  we  hear  thine  awful  roice, 

And,  trembling,  seek  thy  face. 
To  our  poor  souls,  great  God  !  impart 
The  riches  of  thy  grace. 

*  Long  —  long  have  we  relentless  stood: 

In  mercy  thou  dost  spare  — 
O,  may  our  hearts,  through  grace,  this  day 

Begin  a  life  of  prayer  1 ' 


■^.■ 


i,v,. 


■  m 


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;™c*"w*r^s" 


i'J  mt^m'^v^ikilikMmm*''**^^^^^^^*^^^  X""!!''" 


■\ 


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